Podcast

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

On Ireland's most cutting edge current affairs show, Matt and his guests provide a running stream of intelligent opinions and heated debates on the issues that matter most to Irish listeners. You might not always agree, but you'll never want to miss a Word.

Episodes

Sep 13 2019

Dublin and Kerry will face off yet again in the All-Ireland Football Final Replay tomorrow at Croke Park.
As a result, The Last Word returned to Coppers on Wednesday night for another special preview event.
We were joined by a panel of football stars representing both counties:
Jack O'Shea, Kerry legend
Senan Connell, former Dublin player
Kevin Nolan, All-Ireland winner with Dublin in 2011 and 2013
Barry John Keane, All-Ireland winner with Kerry in 2014
They looked ahead to the game and gave their predictions for what might happen this time around.
You can listen to the full audio from the event by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 13 2019

RTÉ is currently undergoing a financial crisis, and it recently emerged that the broadcaster has sought an additional €55 million in taxpayer funding to help ease this.
However, many have suggested that the solution would be to cut the pay of its top presenters.
Independent Senator Rónán Mullen has announced his intention to bring forward legislation which would link the pay of RTÉ broadcasters, producers and researchers to public sector salaries.
He said, "No person, regardless of how famous, should be paid massive fees for a public broadcasting role."
Is he right?
Joe O'Shea and Jennifer Gannon discussed this in our weekly TV slot.
They also talked about the new series from the makers of Gogglebox Ireland and Ireland's Got Talent for Virgin Media Television which will see young renters living with older homeowners.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 13 2019

Donald Trump has announced that the White House will be banning flavoured e-cigarettes in an attempt to tackle the problem of vaping among young people.
In a press conference, Trump referred to his wife Melania's concerns about the issue, saying: "She's got a son."
He then corrected himself by adding "together", but this didn't stop some from questioning whether the president had forgotten that Barron Trump is his son as well as Melania's.
Roe McDermott and Damien McLoughlin discussed this and some of the other stories making the news in The Week Trending.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 12 2019

Downton Abbey was a hugely popular TV period drama which ran for six seasons, coming to an end in 2015.
Four years later it's back, this time on the big screen.
The film is set in 1927 and sees the Crawley family and their staff preparing for a royal visit.
But does it live up to the hype?
Do you have to be a fan of the TV show to appreciate what's on offer?
Brian Lloyd and Dee Molumby from entertainment.ie joined us to review Downton Abbey and Hustlers, which stars Cardi B, Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles and Lizzo.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 12 2019

On Monday, the Irish rugby squad departed for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Before they left, Ireland captain Rory Best joined us courtesy of the Specsavers audiology campaign 'Don't Suffer In Silence' for which he is an ambassador, helping people affected by hearing loss.
Discussing the team's expectations for the World Cup, Best said they are in a happier place now than they were two weeks ago, but are under no illusions that they need to produce better performances than they have done recently.
He also looked back on the emotion of his last game for Ireland at the Aviva and spoke about dealing with criticism, when line-outs don't go as expected, and the challenges of being away from home as a mature player with children.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 12 2019

In the age of social media, it has become easier than ever to spread misinformation and falsehoods.
This has been a problem particularly with people's attitudes to scientific issues such as climate change and vaccination.
Physicist, cancer researcher and science journalist David Robert Grimes has written a new book, The Irrational Ape, in which he argues that critical thinking can save the world.
David points out that we are entitled to our own opinions, but not to our own facts, and that when it comes to evidence "it has to be what is objective and what is measurable."
He joined us on The Last Word to discuss the concept further, and why flawed logic puts us all at risk.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 11 2019

This week's Culture Club inductee is musician, author, podcaster and mental health advocate Niall Breslin, better known as Bressie.
As well as being frontman of The Blizzards, Bressie is also an award-winning children's author. His latest children's book, Take Five, will be published later this year.
He joined us to talk about his favourite music, films, TV shows, plays and books.
Favourite Album: Closing Time by Tom Waits
Favourite Bands: Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine
Best Gig: Republic of Loose in Eamonn Doran's
Favourite Film: In the Name of the Father, Me, Myself &amp; Irene
Favourite TV show: Murder She Wrote, The Tommy Tiernan Show
Favourite Play/Musical: Jesus Christ Superstar
Favourite Book: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 11 2019

Continuing our build-up to the Rugby World Cup in Japan this month, former Ireland international Tommy Bowe and former Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips joined us in studio to look forward to the action.
Phillips says Ireland "know how to win the big games" and are not world number one for no reason.
Assessing his own country's chances, he feels the big game for Wales is Australia, which he describes as a must-win.
Bowe, who will be anchoring Eir's Rugby World Cup coverage, has high hopes for Ireland.
He says winning the first game against Scotland is vital, and if the team can do that, they will build momentum.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 11 2019

How can companies protect themselves against cyber attacks?
A former hacker has the answer.
Mustafa Al Bassam is now senior adviser at Secure Trading and a PhD student in the Information Security Research Group at University College London, working on peer-to-peer systems.
He co-founded the hacker group LulzSec in 2011, which was responsible for several high profile breaches.
The organisations targeted by the group over a 50-day hacking spree included Sony, Fox, News International, Nintendo and the CIA.
Mustafa was convicted as a 16-year-old, receiving a 20-month suspended sentence with 500 hours of unpaid community service work and a nearly two-year internet ban.
He joined us on The Last Word to talk about his experience, and how companies can prevent hacks and limit the damage if they occur.
Mustafa will also be speaking at the Secure Computing Forum in the RDS in Dublin tomorrow.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 11 2019

Women are left with significantly lower pensions than men in retirement, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute.
The ESRI report found that women receive €153 less than men per week, which adds up to €600 less per month and close to €8,000 less per year.
The gender pension gap is mainly due to men spending longer in the workforce. Only a third of women spend 30 years or more in the workforce, compared to 93% of men.
The reasons for this include women taking career breaks to care for children.
As a result, more men have occupational and private pensions, while women mainly depend on the state pension.
Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, says that women are very much second-class citizens when it comes to pensions.
He joined us to discuss this in more detail.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 10 2019

All eyes were on Sinead O'Connor as she made her comeback on The Late Late Show last Friday.
The singer has had a challenging few years, but seemed to be in good spirits as she spoke to Ryan Tubridy about her return to making music after a five-year hiatus.
Her performance of 'Nothing Compares 2 U', the Prince song which brought her worldwide fame when she originally recorded it in 1990, was warmly received by Late Late Show viewers.
John Caddell and Dee Reddy discussed her resurgence in our music slot.
They also talked about Madonna imposing a smartphone ban on crowds at her concerts. Is it the right thing to do?
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 10 2019

Donald Trump has fired his National Security Adviser, John Bolton.
In a tweet, the President stated that he "disagreed strongly" with many of Bolton's suggestions, and had therefore asked him for his resignation.
He added that he would be naming a replacement next week.
....I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 10, 2019
Bolton is the third person to have served as National Security Adviser since Trump took office.
Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone discussed this story and more from the United States, including the three Republicans set to challenge Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination. Do they stand a chance?
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 10 2019

Dublin pub The Bernard Shaw is to close its doors next month after 13 years.
The announcement was made by the pub's owners yesterday, but the exact reason for the closure was not confirmed.
Many have taken to social media to complain that Dublin's cultural spaces are steadily being replaced by hotels, and that the soul of the city has been lost.
Is The Bernard Shaw just another pub, or a cultural institution?
What impact are such venue closures having on our cities, and on rural Ireland?
Aoife Barry, assistant news editor with thejournal.ie, and author and jorunalist Frank McDonald joined us to discuss this.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 09 2019

With the Rugby World Cup about to get underway in Japan this month, former Ireland rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll joined us to look ahead to the campaign and assess the team's chances.
This will be the second World Cup since O'Driscoll's own retirement, and he feels the current squad is better than ever.
Despite a disappointing Six Nations and heavy defeat to England in last month's warm-up match at Twickenham, he insists Ireland still have a great chance of going far in the World Cup and that poor form can be turned around quickly.
O'Driscoll also explained why outside expectations will matter to the team, and why he looks back on his own World Cup campaigns with some regret, despite enjoying many stellar moments in an Ireland shirt.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 09 2019

The HSE has launched a campaign encouraging women to avoid alcohol entirely during pregnancy.
Professor Frank Murray, Chair of Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland, told The Last Word that there is "no safe limit" for the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, and that expectant mothers or those who are thinking of getting pregnant should avoid it completely.
The warning comes as a study of 187 countries estimated that Ireland has the third-highest rate of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, which can severely impact a baby's development.
Irish women have also previously been ranked among the heaviest binge drinkers in the world.
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders can cause various problems such as developmental and physical delay, intellectual disability and inattentiveness in later life.
We were also joined on the programme by Noelle Younkin, who is a member of ENDpae, a support group for people affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and their families.
Noelle adopted two sons, both of whom have Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
She says that pregnant women can often give in to pressure from family and friends to have a drink, and that they need support and encouragement to avoid doing so.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 09 2019

Boris Johnson met with Leo Varadkar in Dublin today for Brexit talks, followed by a press conference.
The British Prime Minister stated that he believes a deal can be done by October 18, while the Taoiseach emphasised that the backstop remains "a critical component of the withdrawal agreement" for the Irish government, unless realistic alternatives could be found.
He also told Boris Johnson that he would have a "Herculean task" ahead of him, and that Ireland could be his Athena.
Lise Hand and Daniel McConnell joined us to discuss these latest developments.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 06 2019

Leeds United is celebrating its centenary, and there is a new book to mark the occasion.
Daniel Chapman is the author of 100 Years of Leeds United, which looks back on the highs and lows that have occurred throughout the club's history.
Daniel feels Leeds can be summed up as "the best team that wins nothing".
As well as charting their successes and failures on the pitch, he also looks at the financial mismanagement that has often taken place.
He joined us on The Last Word to discuss the book and whether this could be the season that Leeds finally return to the Premier League.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 06 2019

The Late Late Show returns tonight for a brand new season, and the line-up has been revealed.
Maura Higgins and Greg O'Shea from Love Island are due to appear alongside fellow contestant Amber Gill, but Amber's presence has been thrown into doubt amid rumours that she and Greg have split up.
There will also be performances from Sinead O'Connor and Lewis Capaldi, and other guests will include comedian Aisling Bea and Keith Barry, who is promoting his new RTÉ series.
But has The Late Late Show become too predictable now that its list of guests is revealed in advance?
Is it as relevant today as it was when Gay Byrne was at the helm?
Jennifer Gannon and Joe O'Shea gave their take in our TV slot, and also discussed 20 years of Loose Women.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 06 2019

How much time do you spend on your phone?
According to a report by ComReg, Irish people spend an average of four and a half hours per day using their smartphones.
However, it seems that most of this time is spent on social media rather than actually making calls, which account for just 10% of phone use.
The report found that streaming video and music are the next most popular activities after social media.
Donal O'Donoghue and Sinead O'Carroll discussed this and some of the other stories making the news this week, including the Australian man who found himself having to land a plane during his first flying lesson when the instructor collapsed.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 06 2019

It is a rivalry that has existed for centuries, probably longer. Which county is the 'real capital' or the 'better' county?
Journalist Pat Fitzpatrick reckons he has the answer and over one hundred reasons why Cork is the obvious winner.
He has written the book, 101 Reasons Why Cork Is Better Than Dublin. He joined us in studio to take us through his reasons why Cork is better than Dublin and explained the many meanings to the word langer.
Cork has moved on from the days of Tanora and Crubeens. It is a county where 90 minutes outside of it, means you actually get somewhere. That's in comparison to Dublin of course, where you'll only get half way across the M50 in the same time.
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Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 05 2019

We have all heard that sugar is the ingredient we need to reduce in our diets and that a sugar tax on high sugar drinks would help tackle obesity.
A new study in the British Medical Journal however, has said that a tax on high sugar snacks would be more effective on reducing obesity than what is currently in place.
The research has said that a 20% levy on sugar rich foods, could lead to a 1.3 kilogram average waist loss per person in a year.
Maeve Hanan, a registered dietitian with Orla Walsh Nutrition and Conor McMahon, deputy editor with Fora.ie joined us in studio to discuss this idea of a snack tax.
When it comes to imposing a levy like the sugar tax, Conor warned that it can create an opportunity for companies to create alternatives to sugar.
Dietitian Maeve Hanan, also highlighted during the discussion that it would be difficult to draw the line between what foods should and should not be included in a snack tax.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 05 2019

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the film American Beauty, starring Kevin Spacey.
It earned 356 million dollars in the box office and received eight Oscar nominations, of which it won five.
After twenty years, how well has the film aged? Brian Lloyd and Dee Molumby joined us for our weekly movies slot to discuss this and other news in the world of movies, as well as review new film release IT: Chapter Two.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 04 2019

This week's Culture Club inductee is comedian and actor Ardal O'Hanlon.
He has starred in many plays and TV shows over the years, but has now returned to stand-up.
His new show, The Showing Off Must Go On, can be seen in several venues across Ireland throughout October and November including Cork Opera House, Vicar Street in Dublin and University Concert Hall in Limerick. Tickets are available here.
Ardal joined us to discuss his favourite comedy, books, plays, movies, music and TV shows.
Favourite Comedian: Milton Jones
Favourite Author: Kevin Barry
Favourite Play/Musical: The Book of Mormon
Favourite TV shows: Succession, Deadwood, The Wire, Freaks and Geeks
Favourite Sitcoms: The Larry Sanders Show, Seinfeld, I'm Alan Partridge, The Office
Favourite Movies: Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, Hail the Conquering Hero, Fargo
Favourite Band: LCD Soundsystem
Favourite Album: Astral Weeks by Van Morrison
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 04 2019

Vaping is seen by some as a safer alternative to smoking.
However, new concerns have been raised after the first vaping-related death was reported in the United States, and there have been further cases of people presenting with serious respiratory illnesses.
Dr Ray Walley joined us for our weekly medical consultation to discuss the potential dangers of vaping and whether it really is any better than smoking.
He points out that, apart from nicotine, the constituents of vapourisers and e-cigarettes are unknown, and therefore we don't really know what we're inhaling.
In the US they are overseen in the same way as supplements and are therefore not subject to the same rigorous testing as a drug would be.
Ray's advice is to visit your GP if you vape and are experiencing symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, diarrhoea, fatigue and weight loss.
He says that vaping is no more successful than using nicotine patches to quit smoking, and that the best method is to use the HSE quitline, which has a 50% higher success rate. Smokers should be aware that it might take more than one attempt to give up.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 04 2019

As the new college year begins, many parents will be concerned about how to cover the cost of their child's third level education.
A survey by Zurich estimates that that the average cost of third level for students living at home is €4,600 per year.
For those living in student accommodation, this figure is much higher.
Just 44% of students qualify for a grant, and the survey also found that roughly four out of ten parents get into debt as a result of sending their children to college.
Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joined us to give some advice on easing the financial pain.
When it comes to taking out a loan, Charlie recommends credit unions as they often offer good rates. He also advises being wary of interest-free loans from banks and student credit cards, as students will often have no experience of managing money.
There is also tax relief available for parents who have two children in college at the same time.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 03 2019

Justin Bieber has spoken about his struggles with growing up in the spotlight and the impact that rising to fame at such a young age had on him.
In an Instagram post, the now 25-year-old singer told his fans that becoming famous at 13 led him to make bad decisions, such as using heavy drugs.
"I went from a 13-year-old boy from a small town to being praised left and right by the world, with millions saying how much they loved me and how great I was. You hear these things enough as a young boy and you actually start believing it. Rationality comes with age."
Bieber added that he had developed no life skills by the age of 18, due to having other people do everything for him, but credited his wife Hailey Baldwin with helping him become a better person.
Does he deserve credit for drawing attention to the problems that often come with early fame?
John Caddell and Dee Reddy spoke about this in our music slot, as well as looking back at Electric Picnic 2019 and discussing Spotify's most streamed songs of the summer.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 03 2019

US Vice President Mike Pence is currently in Ireland, and the White House has said his meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar proves he is not "anti-gay".
Pence and his wife Karen joined the Taoiseach and his partner Matthew Barrett for lunch today at Farmleigh House.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere tweeted the following:
For all of you who still think our @VP is anti-gay, I point you to his and the @SecondLady’s schedule tomorrow where they will join Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar and his partner Dr. Matthew Barrett for lunch in Ireland. 🇮🇪 @merrionstreet pic.twitter.com/Cj5kMpln0U
&mdash; Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) September 3, 2019
Pence has been criticised for his views on LGBTQ rights, and Amnesty International organised a dance outside the Dáil this afternoon to protest his visit.
Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone discussed this and the other talking points of Pence's visit, including his stance on Brexit.
They also talked about the Tennessee school that has removed the Harry Potter books from its library because of the apparent risk of evil spirits being conjured.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 03 2019

Talking to children about weight can be a difficult thing to do.
With one in four children in Ireland either overweight or obese, what's the best way for parents to approach the subject if they have concerns?
While it's normal for children to gain some weight around puberty, and genetics can also play a part, dietitian Sarah Keogh from EatWell.ie says eating habits and physical activity should be looked at.
Sarah says it's important for parents not to make their child feel upset, different or bad, and suggests looking at family habits instead of singling out the child.
Dr Malie Coyne, a clinical child psychologist, says too much screen time can have a major impact on weight, as children are more likely to snack during this time. Ongoing research shows that lack of sleep is also detrimental.
Malie adds that children with weight issues are prone to bullying by their peers, and that introducing shame and criticism to a conversation about weight can significantly impact a child's self-esteem.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 02 2019

The activist group No White Saviours recently held their first conference in Uganda.
The group is calling for an end to the depiction of white people as heroes in Africa.
In our Monday debate we asked whether charities working in the developing world are actually doing more harm than good.
Should those travelling to African countries aim to learn from the local people rather than simply doing things for them?
Would it be better to donate money instead? And is the emerging trend of 'voluntourism' causing more problems?
To discuss this we were joined by Mark Malone, communications officer with Comhlamh, Ellie Kisyombe, a direct provision campaigner originally from Malawi, Amy Costello, senior correspondent with Not For Profit Quarterly and host of the Tiny Spark podcast, and former aid worker Marion McKeone.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Sep 02 2019

The HSE has today announced its 2019 financial plan, after months of delay.
Just over €2 billion will be spent over the next three years, which will provide for 480 extra hospital beds, 100 more mental health beds, refurbishment of 58 community nursing homes and 30 new primary care centres, among other projects.
The new national children's hospital is currently budgeted for €1.7 billion.
Minister for Health Simon Harris joined us to discuss the details of the plan.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 30 2019

The Last Word's annual All-Ireland senior football final preview took place in Coppers on Wednesday night.
We were joined by a panel of football stars to look forward to Dublin v Kerry in Croke Park on Sunday.
They were:
Marc Ó Sé, five-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry
Declan O'Sullivan, five-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry
Senan Connell, former Dublin player
Ger Brennan, two-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin
They shared their predictions and also took questions from our audience.
To listen to the full audio from the event, press the play button at the top of this page....more

Aug 30 2019

The hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders is back for a fifth season, and will be available on Netflix from October.
Set in Birmingham in the aftermath of World War I, it stars Cillian Murphy as gang leader Thomas Shelby.
The new season incorporates real-life figures like Oswald Mosley, and the show's creator Steven Knight has indicated that there could be a sixth, or even seventh, season which would bring the story up to World War II.
How does Peaky Blinders compare to classic crime dramas like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos?
And has it contributed to the rise of the 'bad fan', who sees a TV antihero as a hero whose behaviour they may try to emulate?
Jennifer Gannon and Joe O'Shea joined us for our weekly TV slot to discuss this and more.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 30 2019

Social media sites such as Instagram have been accused of fuelling a 'clean eating' disorder.
According to dietitians, people are restricting their diets as a result of following users who constantly post pictures of healthy food.
This obsession with clean eating has been labelled 'orthorexia'.
Can people actually overdo it when it comes to so-called healthy living?
Brianna Parkins and Lorcan Nyhan discussed this story in The Week Trending.
They also talked about the Krispy Kreme craze sweeping Ireland, the effects of the #MeToo movement on the workplace, the idea of employers granting mental health breaks, and Eric Cantona's bizarre award acceptance speech.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 29 2019

A recent report conducted by DoneDeal looked at how quickly a new car loses its value in the first three years.
It made the following calculations:
Diesel - 43%
Electric Vehicle - 41%
Hybrid - 26%
Petrol - 24%
However, DoneDeal has since admitted its research was flawed, as it didn't factor in subsidies for EVs.
EVs in fact lose value at a similar rate to petrol vehicles.
Michael Sheridan discussed this in our motoring slot, and also explained more about the new Vantablack BMW and why it is considered the darkest possible colour.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 29 2019

People attending Electric Picnic this weekend in Stradbally, Co. Laois are being warned about high-strength drugs which are in circulation.
There have been a number of drug-related deaths at festivals in Ireland and the UK this year, and Electric Picnic organisers say they will be taking a zero-tolerance stance on drug use at this weekend's festival, which will involve working with Gardaí and carrying out more searches.
Dr Chris Luke, consultant in emergency medicine and Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Public Health at UCC, is an expert in this area.
He told The Last Word that significant dangers arise from people taking drugs and having no idea what is in them.
The HSE has provided harm reduction advice to people who may decide to take drugs at the festival. This includes:
Start with a very small dose and see how you react to the drug
Wait at least two hours before taking any more
Don't mix drugs
Stay cool and hydrated
Don't be afraid to get help
Chris emphasised the importance of having groups of friends who agree to look out for each other, and that medical staff will not judge anyone looking for help.
Anyone concerned about a friend who has taken drugs should call for help immediately, put them in the recovery position, tell paramedics, doctors or nurses what they may have taken and show them any packets, pills or powders because "that knowledge can be life-saving."
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 28 2019

This week's Culture Club inductee is Saoirse McHugh, the Green Party candidate for the Midlands-North West constituency in the European Parliament elections this year.
She impressed many when she challenged Peter Casey in a TV debate in the final days of the campaign, and came close to taking a seat.
Saoirse joined us to talk about her favourite TV shows, movies, books, plays, music and podcasts.
Favourite TV Show: Doctor Who, Embarassing Bodies
Favourite Movies: Pride, I, Daniel Blake, Muriel's Wedding
Favourite Play: Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett
First Single: 'There's A Whole Lot Of Loving' by Six
Favourite Albums: Lungs by Florence and the Machine, Songs of Love and Hate by Leonard Cohen
Best Gigs: Metallica, Rodrigo y Gabriela
Favourite Podcast: Weekly Economics by the New Economics Foundation
Favourite Authors: John McGahern, John Steinbeck
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 28 2019

In last week's medical consultation, Dr Ray Walley discussed some common classroom illnesses that parents should watch out for.
We continued the series this week by looking at mumps, measles whooping cough and threadworms.
Mumps/Measles
GPs started seeing a reduction in MMR vaccinations 20 years ago, which has led to increased cases of measles and mumps. There were 1,600 cases of mumps recorded this year.
Mumps is a highly infectious virus which usually happens in secondary schools and colleges. There are no symptoms for the first few days, but when they appear, they include swelling of the face, severe fever, headache, aching limbs and muscles, and loss of appetite.
There can be dangerous complications such as meningitis, pancreatitis or infertility in boys due to swelling of the testes. If your child has mumps, they should stay off school for five days after swelling appears. In measles cases, they should stay off for four days after the appearance of the rash.
Whooping Cough
As well as the cough itself, other symptoms of whooping cough include sore throat, fever and aching limbs.
It is an infectious illness which requires treatment with antibiotics, and discomfort can also be treated with painkillers.
Threadworms
These are millimeter-sized worms which are found around the anus. They infect the gut and lay eggs, and can cause severe abdominal pain.
Threadworms need to be treated with anti-threadworm medication, which may need to be repeated as the eggs can often come back.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 28 2019

Queen Elizabeth has approved British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's request to suspend parliament for five weeks until 14 October.
MPs have accused Johnson of using the suspension to push through a no-deal Brexit, something he has denied.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that suspending parliament was "not acceptable", while Scottish First Minister commented that it was not democracy, but dictatorship.
We were joined by Gavin Esler, author of Brexit Without The Bullshit, and Aoife O'Donoghue, Professor of International Law and Global Governance at Durham Law School, to discuss the story further.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 27 2019

Donald Trump has been accused of trying to profit from the presidency by planning to host next year's G7 summit at one of his own resorts.
During a joint press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron at the summit in Biarritz, Trump attempted to convince reporters that he wasn't interested in making money.
Instead he confirmed that his Trump National Doral Miami golf resort in Florida could potentially host the next summit, and went into businessman mode as he promoted its various features.
Trump would receive a large portion of taxpayers' money if his resort did host the summit.
Is Trump once again putting his business interests before the presidency?
Cal Thomas and Larry Donnelly discussed this and more from the United States.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more

Aug 27 2019

Minister for Health Simon Harris announced today that the HPV vaccine will be offered to teenage boys starting secondary school from September.
The vaccine, which has been available for girls since 2010, protects against a number of cancers caused by HPV.
Ireland will now be among 20 countries offering the vaccine to both girls and boys, with the aim to "effectively eradicate HPV cancers" over time.
The uptake among girls is currently around 70 per cent, having increased from 50 per cent, and Minister Harris says there has been "a lot of misinformation" about the vaccine.
He joined us on The Last Word to explain why society can't afford to be complacent about the issue, and the other steps he is taking to promote the benefits of vaccination.
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Aug 27 2019

A Canadian company is planning to sell cannabis beer in Ireland by next year.
Niall Phelan was co-founder of Rye River Brewing and is now chief operating officer with Province Brands in Canada.
The company has developed a new drink by infusing compounds from the cannabis plant into non-alcoholic beer.
Drinks sold in Ireland would contain CBD. In Canada they would also contain THC, which is currently illegal in Ireland and many other European countries.
Niall says the goal is "to brew healthy non-alcoholic products".
He says that alcohol has "all sorts of negative health connotations" according to the World Health Organisation, while research also suggests that CBD has a number of positive benefits.
As the beer is non-alcoholic, there will be no resulting hangover. It is not hallucinogenic, but could have a relaxing effect.
Niall hopes the product could ultimately act as an alcohol replacement: "If we could get to a place where we could replace alcohol consumption, that would be an amazing place to be."
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Aug 26 2019

Over 1,300 nursing and midwifery posts have been left vacant in Irish hospitals, according to the INMO.
One in six midwife posts are currently vacant, while there are over 400 vacancies in public health and community nursing and over 900 in the acute hospital system.
Tony Fitzpatrick, Director of Industrial Relations with the INMO, says that these posts are left vacant for between 6-12 months.
He was joined by Priscilla Lynch, Clinical Editor of the Medical Independent, and Colm Burke, Fine Gael senator and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, to discuss why this is happening.
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Aug 26 2019

Further revelations about John Delaney's time as Chief Executive of the FAI have come to light.
Delaney is currently on 'gardening leave' from the organisation but is said to still be on the payroll.
Mark Tighe, journalist with The Sunday Times, joined us to discuss some of the stories that have emerged about Delaney's activities.
One of the stories concerns a payment of €30,000 that was made by the FAI to former footballer Con Martin for coming up with the idea for the John Giles Foundation.
It was also revealed that model Nadia Forde was paid to attend a charity dancing event hosted by the John Giles Foundation, at which she danced with Delaney.
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Aug 23 2019

The Rose of Tralee is back for another year. But after six decades, is it even relevant?
Dáithí Ó Sé, who is celebrating his 10th year as Rose of Tralee host, has described the festival as a "sisterhood" which is empowering for women.
"I think those real heartwarming stories behind the whole thing, and to get up in front of the whole nation and tell them, I think can be very empowering," he said in an interview to mark the launch.
Is he right? Or is the Rose of Tralee simply an outdated 'Lovely Girls' competition?
And if it is the latter, why are we still watching it?
Alison Healy and Joe O'Shea debated this in our weekly TV slot.
They also discussed RTÉ's cancellation of Brendan O'Connor's popular Cutting Edge show, Apple TV's new series The Morning Show (reportedly one of the most expensive TV shows ever) and Channel 4's controversial documentary How To Train Your Baby Like A Dog.
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Aug 23 2019

Donald Trump has doubled down on comments he made linking mental health and gun violence.
After the recent mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, the US president stated that he wanted to focus on mental illness to prevent gun violence, rather than gun control.
Ian O'Grady, president of the Psychological Society of Ireland, joined us to explain why Trump's comments are "incorrect and simplistic".
"It scapegoats a very vulnerable section of our society, and it would also have a very genuine negative impact on those who are seeking out or are currently receiving treatment for mental health difficulties."
Questions have been raised about Trump's own mental health, particularly after a press conference this week in which he proclaimed himself "the chosen one".
But Ian says it's unethical to put a diagnosis on someone without having met them.
"I think people can be condemned for political decisions that they make, but judging decisions that they make through the lens of possible mental illness is unhelpful and also does a disservice to people who may themselves be undergoing treatment."
Cal Thomas, a regular on The Last Word's weekly US slot, also joined us to discuss how Trump's "chosen one" remark has offended many Christians in the United States.
"I think a lot of his language is political and designed to keep his opponents off balance."
I don't think it's going to really harm his base, but recent polls show that his disapproval is at a record high. I think he need to correct that, and kind language and humility gets you a lot further than harsh language and insults."
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Aug 23 2019

This year's winning joke at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has been deemed offensive by a Tourette's charity in the UK.
The following joke, made by comedian Olaf Falafel, won Dave's "Funniest Joke of the Fringe" award as voted for by the public:
I keep randomly shouting out 'Broccoli' and 'Cauliflower' - I think I might have florets.
Tourettes Action said it had received phone calls from parents of children with Tourette's, who were upset by the joke.
The charity's chief executive commented that it was not funny "to poke fun at people with Tourette's".
Is it acceptable to joke about almost any issue, or is there a line that shouldn't be crossed?
Caitlin McBride and Ian Power discussed this story in The Week Trending.
They also talked about the group of activists in Uganda calling for an end to white people being depicted as 'saviours' in Africa, and the criticism being levelled at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their carbon footprint.
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Aug 22 2019

A radical restructuring of An Garda Síochána was announced today by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
The reforms include a reduction in the number of Garda regions and divisions, with local units being given more power.
The number of regions will be reduced from six to four, and the number of divisions from 28 to 19.
Chief Superintendents in charge of the divisions are to be given more powers, and they will each have four Superintendents, allowing them to oversee a more community-based approach to policing.
These changes are also expected to allow for an increase in front-line officers.
However, several groups have expressed concerns about the new model.
To discuss this further we were joined by Antoinette Cunningham, deputy general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, Noeline Blackwell, former member of the Future of Policing Commission and chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, and Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick.
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Aug 22 2019

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil has had a record 70,000 fires since the beginning of this year.
It has already far exceeded the total number of fires in the region for 2018, which was around 40,000, and there have been about 9,500 fires in the last seven days alone.
The Brazilian city of Sao Paulo was plunged into darkness at 3pm on Monday afternoon due to the level of smoke filling the skies.
The Amazon rainforest covers an area of 5.5 million square kilometers, and is 65 times larger than the island of Ireland.
To date, approximately 20% of the forest has been completely destroyed, mostly by loggers and farmers.
Environmental journalist John Gibbons joined us to explain why this series of fires should be a matter of great global concern.
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Aug 22 2019

A High Court judge has said he is minded to approve a personal insolvency arrangement for musician Frank McNamara and his wife, barrister Theresa Lowe, to assist them with debts of €3.7m.
The couple owe €2.26m to financial fund Tanager DAC, a debt which is secured against their family home.
They also owe money to parties including Bank of Ireland, Banco de Sabadell SA, and Revenue.
Brendan Burgess, founder of Askaboutmoney.com, and Michael Dowling, Financial Adviser and personal insolvency practitioner at Dowling Financial, joined us to discuss whether writing off debt should be more restricted.
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Aug 21 2019

This week's Culture Club inductee is Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe.
He is no stranger to The Last Word, but this time he's not talking about Brexit, budgets or recessions.
Instead he takes a step back from politics to discuss his favourite music, movies, books, plays and podcasts.
Favourite Movies: The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Favourite Books: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Middle England by Jonathan Coe
Favourite Podcast: Talking Politics
Favourite TV Shows: Doctor Who, Match of the Day
Favourite Play: The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh
First Single: 'Baby I Don't Care' by Transvision Vamp
Favourite Bands: The Waterboys, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire
Best Gig: Gillian Welch at Vicar Street in 2003
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page....more